I found a lump at the bottom of my right breast (a little bit right of a vertical line down from my nipple), almost at the fold where the breast attaches to my chest wall. It is not inflamed or red, though it is hard, round and painless (it looks like a mosquito bite because of a needle-like indentation in the middle of it), but when I try to put my fingers around the lump and slightly pull up, it feels as if I could practically "pluck" it off. There doesn't seem to be any dimpling or nipple inversion going on. I'm going to go see about it, but I thought I'd just ask for some feedback. Thanks.

FROM OUR EXPERTS

From your description, it sounds like this can be moved around a bit, if you feel like you can almost pick it up and pluck it off. This doesn't sound like cancer, as a tumor is usually fixed in place. It's always good to get breast changes examined, so I'm glad you're going to see about it; but I wouldn't worry too much, OK? Good luck - PJH

Thanks so very much for your quick response. I really appreciate it. While I haven't had any family members diagnosed with breast cancer (we run more in the heart and lung problems arena), I've seen what others have experienced, and with my fear of hospitals (my mom died when I was 16; my father had his first heart attack when I was 10), I am terrified of the treatments for how they could affect my heart and lungs if I did have cancer. Sorry, I'm a writer and can imagine a lot!

Ah, imagination... I know what you mean! Worry is eviscerating; it does nothing but make us feel bad. Action trumps worry - so seeing the doctor should do the trick here. And, while there are a couple of very specific chemo drugs that can affect your heart, in general breast cancer treatment is pretty safe. And radiation, the way it's delivered now, is much, much less likely to affect your lungs than it was in the past. Bottom line, BC treatment is vastly improved that what it used to be - but let's not go there! Good luck - PJH

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